Hey guys! Here we are! Chapter ten!

It feels so great to be back to writing my stories and reading your reviews!

Speaking of which, in response to Steam Powered Crow's question: I'd really like to, but I'll have to figure out who Juvia's partner would be. I even considered changing it so that Juvia isn't a candidate and she can work with Gray instead of Leo (Loke, whatev), what do you think?

Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy this tenth chapter!

Lisanna felt herself being shaken awake by her sister.

"Come on Lisanna, you need to get ready!" Mirajane giggled as her younger sibling groggily opened her eyes.

"Wait... What are you talking about?" Just as she said this, it came rushing back to her. A mixture of excitement, apprehension, fear, and-for some odd reason-the OTHER type of excitement filled her up as she leapt out of bed, past Mirajane, and into the bathroom to get ready for the day's big event.

•••

Natsu was peacefully drooling on his pillow, dreaming of a banquet table covered with multitudes of delicious food and open braziers crackling merrily with succulent orange flames, right up until some mysterious blue flying object emptied a large bucket of icy water on his head.

"GAAAAAH!" He screamed; flailing around so much he fell out of his hammock and onto the filthy floor. The disgruntled teen squinted above to identify the aerial fiend as none other than Happy. "What was that for you winged rat?"

Happy grinned widely and stuck out his tongue, "Lisanna won't be happy if she finds out you forgot!"

Natsu frowned "Forgot what?"

"How could you not remember?" Giggled Happy, "You and Lisanna are fighting today."

•••

The beach behind the guildhall was a quiet place, reserved for members of Fairy Tail only, and these members were usually out on missions. Today however, a ragtag band of a dozen people-all close friends of the combatants-had made the journey down the steep cliffs to watch the much awaited fight between the two lovers. The beach was a perfect place for this fight, close to nothing was flammable, the sand softened any impacts, and the sea made it easy for Gray and Juvia to intervene if the fiery battle escalated out of control. All the spectators were eating a late breakfast while awaiting the fighters. Lucy and Wendy were fretting about either Natsu or Lisanna getting hurt. On the other hand, Erza and Gray were placing wagers.

"Natsu will win, it's obvious, he can eat flames; Lisanna's attacks will only empower him." Gray insisted, as Juvia swooned over him from a safe distance.

Erza only smiled and shook her head, "You're forgetting the relationship; Natsu is terrified of hurting her. I guarantee you, he'll be pulling his punches, whereas Lisanna is raring to prove herself and reassert herself as a powerful member of the Guild."

Gray scoffed, "Well either way, Lisanna will tire before him." He then added, "Don't you dare tell flame-head that I was rooting for him, it's a strategic choice."

Toward the back of the crowd, Gajeel was skulking with Pantherlily, the latter considerably more excited than his partner.

"I don't see how you can't be more enthusiastic than this, Gajeel!" Said the former commander, "This is bound to be a fine display of Earthland magic!"

The Iron Dragon Slayer snorted, "Those lovebirds are too soft to actually battle, this will be a pitiful slap fight between weaklings."

At that moment, Natsu was found bolting across the sand to the congregation of spectators with Happy flying close behind him.

"I'm here! I made it!" He panted as everyone started chortling.

"Well it's about time, I thought you might have forgotten!"

The crowd parted to reveal Lisanna as the source of the voice. She was dressed in short shorts and a blue T-shirt. Her eyes were wide and excited and she seemed to be radiating a defiant confidence. Needless to say, the attitude and the casual attire gave her a resplendent beauty in her lover's eyes.

"Alright then!" Exclaimed the tiny Master Makarov, Gildarts hanging apprehensively over his shoulder. "Let's get this fight underway, shall we?"

"Not yet." Interjected Lisanna, "I'd like a word with my boyfriend before we start."

Natsu felt pride swell up within him at the way she referred to him. She walked to him and whispered into his ear,

"Listen, I know you don't want to hurt me, but I can take it. Please don't pull your punches, I love you so much."

Natsu answered by grabbing her head and pressing his lips to hers. The people around them whooped and whistled, and when he pulled away, Natsu said "I wouldn't dare to underestimate you baby, but if I ever go too hard, tell me straight away."

They kissed again briefly before walking to opposite ends of the circle formed by the onlookers. Natsu closed his eyes and prayed to every god he could think of not to hurt his love.

"Begin!" Called out Master Makarov.

Lisanna was the first to move, "FLAME SOUL: BEHEMOTH!" She instantly morphed into an enormous fiery beast. It was too hard to tell through the flames, but Natsu later swore he saw an elephant in the midst of the inferno.

As a matter of fact, the young hero was taken by surprise by this headstrong assault, and barely had time to leap above the charging beast. Lisanna felt her inner self chanting happily, he had fallen for the bait!

"PHOENIX" Within moments after Natsu's jump, she shifted from her large clumsy behemoth form to the graceful bird she loved so much. Natsu realized his mistake just as Lisanna swooped upwards and struck him in the chest. She knew that the fire wouldn't harm Natsu, but the speed and strength she gained from it would. Indeed, the blow knocked the wind right out of Natsu's lungs; he twisted away and landed unsteadily on his feet, Lisanna circling above him in victorious satisfaction.

I've underestimated her, Natsu told himself as he felt an odd mix of pride and embarrassment, I knew she'd improved, but she's playing me like a flute. I need to give this all I've got.

The Salamander started inhaling deeply, trying to deprive Lisanna of her ace in the hole. But the fire just wouldn't respond, Lisanna's flames stayed stuck to her, refusing to be swallowed by the Mage who prided himself on that ability. Natsu didn't have the time to feel embarrassed since his lover picked that moment to dive again, morphing into behemoth form moments before hitting the ground. Natsu had to dive away and roll aside to avoid the impact and the following charge. His mind was racing, Lisanna was sure to have more Flame Soul forms in store, but why couldn't he eat her fire? The only time he had ever failed to control fire was in his fight against the Element Four's Totomaru of the Great Fire. And in the end he had regained control by saying controlled his flames but him.

Is Lisanna doing the same thing?

He barely had time to reflect upon this before Lisanna morphed again, "HELLHOUND!" The mighty elephant shrank and grew leaner, the flat face elongating into a snarling muzzle. The hound form, being far more agile, allowed Lisanna to change course mid-charge and lunge at Natsu. For the first time in the battle, instinct overrode the Dragon Slayer's care for his lover. His fists ignited and he stepped aside, Lisanna missed him by millimeters and Natsu took his chance. Clasping his hands together, he brought them down in unison against her side, "RAGING TALON OF THE FIRE DRAGON!"

This blow packed more than twice as much power as his trademark 'Iron Fist' and as a result, Lisanna was blasted aside. The crowd parted as she barreled across the beach and into the water.

"God…" muttered Gray as he stepped away, "This is amazing… Lisanna is so much more powerful than I'd imagined, but she's still no match for the flame-brain."

Erza smirked, "Don't hold your breath Gray, this is just starting."

As if on cue, Lisanna's fire twisted furiously around her as she started standing up in the water.

Is she turning back into human form? Natsu's jaw dropped as the fire cleared, No… That's not human…

"FLAME SOUL: DJINN"

Where the hellhound had fallen, Lisanna was floating above the water's surface. Only… it wasn't Lisanna. Her skin was glowing brightly, and she was clad in a flame dress, wielding a whip made of long streams of fire. The most obvious change however was her face; it was still Lisanna's, but her short ivory hair had been replaced with a flaming mane and her eyes were now glowing crimson. Despite this transformation, she was still oddly beautiful. Lisanna's usual cuteness was now replaced by absolute intimidating elegance. As a poppy can be compared to a rose, so now could Lisanna's true appearance be compared to this unnerving form, thorns and all.

She glided over the water, smirking at the audience's dumbfounded expressions.

"Come on baby," she teased, winking at Natsu, "let's play."

All fear of hurting Lisanna was gone as Natsu realized that as much as she was a kindhearted and affectionate person in everyday life, she was more than capable of handling herself in a fight.

"Alright then," The Dragon Slayer grinned widely, "You have no idea how much I love you right now."

Quick as that, they charged, blasting each other with raging infernos. Natsu caught his lover's whip and pulled with all his strength, she flew toward him and straight into his Roar of the Fire Dragon. When the flames cleared she had vanished, looking up, Natsu saw her flying down to him. He knew exactly what she would do and stood his ground, finally realizing her secret. As soon as she started changing to her behemoth form, Natsu inhaled. This time, Lisanna did not expect the trick, and thus was not able to control her flames as she had before. The fire was siphoned into Natsu's open mouth; he swallowed all of her flames, therefore draining her magic. By the time he was finished, Lisanna did not have enough magic to sustain Flame Soul. She fell straight into his arms, smiling slightly.

"Lisa…"

She turned to look at the kind eyes above her; Natsu leaned down and kissed her passionately, to which Lisanna responded happily. When they broke the kiss, Natsu smiled broadly,

"I am so proud of you."

As they embraced, the spectators cheered and laughed. Gray grinned ecstatically as Erza grudgingly handed him 500 jewels. The couple got up and walked up the path to the Guild hand in hand, accompanied by their friends, all of whom were chatting excitedly about the momentous battle they had just been witness to.

Only two people were left on the beach; Master Makarov and Gildarts stared at the waves peacefully.

Makarov was the first to speak, "You must be very proud."

Gildarts was silent for a few moments, gazing at the soft rhythm of the waves with a serene smile, "Yes… I certainly am. Natsu and Lisanna are the closest thing to children I've ever had, to see them this happy and this skilled truly makes me feel like a proud father would."

"There is one issue," said the old man, "in opposition, they may struggle, but if they work together in the S-class exams, it may be too much for the other teams."

Gildarts scoffed, "And if they don't, they'll be bummed that they can't be together. Let them be."

Makarov grinned, "They truly are a perfect match."

On that note, the master and his disciple silently watched the glittering sea, thinking of how bright the future was for the young couple.